What is Mark-48 torpedo the US used to sink Iranian warship in its first submarine hit after World War 2

The Mark-48 is a heavyweight torpedo used by the US Navy's attack submarines to destroy both enemy warships and submarines

• US sub sank Iranian frigate IRIS Dena with Mark-48 torpedo
• Over 80 Iranian sailors killed in the Indian Ocean attack
• First US torpedo sinking of an enemy warship since World War II

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The United States has released infrared footage showing the final moments of the IRIS Dena, a modern Iranian Moudge-class frigate, before it sank in the Indian Ocean.

The video captures the moment a US submarine launched a Mark-48 heavyweight torpedo, which struck and destroyed the vessel.

According to US officials, the attack killed more than 80 sailors and sent the Iranian Navy warship to the ocean floor. The incident has emerged as one of the most dramatic naval developments in the rapidly widening Middle East crisis, where missiles, drones and rockets continue to be exchanged across the region.

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Attention has now turned to the weapon used in the strike - the Mark-48 torpedo - the primary submarine-launched weapon of the US Navy. Here is what to know about it.

What is the Mark-48 torpedo?

The Mark-48 is a heavyweight torpedo used by the US Navy's attack submarines to destroy both enemy warships and submarines. It serves as the main offensive weapon carried by American submarines in modern naval warfare.

When was the Mark-48 developed?

The torpedo was first introduced in 1972 and has undergone multiple upgrades since then. Modern versions, including the Mk-48 ADCAP (Advanced Capability) variant, feature improved electronics, guidance systems and propulsion technology.

How powerful is the Mark-48?

The weapon weighs roughly 3,800 pounds (about 1,700 kilograms) and carries a high-explosive warhead strong enough to cripple or sink large naval vessels. Its destructive power makes it one of the most formidable underwater weapons currently in service.

How does the torpedo track its target?

The Mark-48 uses a combination of active and passive sonar to detect and track targets underwater. This allows it to follow ships or submarines even if they attempt evasive manoeuvres or change course.

Why does the torpedo explode under a ship?

Unlike many weapons that strike the hull directly, the Mark-48 is designed to detonate beneath a ship. When it explodes under the vessel, the blast creates a massive gas bubble that expands and collapses.

This process snaps the ship's keel - the main structural beam running along the bottom of the hull. Known as the "keel-breaking" effect, it can split a vessel into multiple sections, causing it to sink rapidly.

How fast and far can it travel?

The torpedo can reach speeds of more than 55 knots (over 100 km/h) and strike targets dozens of kilometres away, giving submarines the ability to attack enemy vessels from long distances.

Which US submarines carry the Mark-48?

The weapon is deployed on several classes of US submarines, including those designed for advanced undersea warfare missions.

Why is the sinking of IRIS Dena significant?

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth described the strike as a "quiet death," noting that it marked the first time since World War II that a US torpedo has sunk an enemy warship. The incident highlights the growing naval dimension of the escalating conflict in the Middle East.